The Ugandan government has filed a lawsuit against Kenya at the East Africa Court of Justice, to seek legal redress over the contentious oil importation agreement.
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Uganda claimed that Kenya had prevented the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) from awarding it a license to import oil through Mombasa Port in court documents filed through their Attorney General.
Ugandan government clarifies why it had to sue Kenya
The East African nation stated that, as per the terms of the government-to-government oil agreement signed by Kenya in 2023, it was legal for it to import oil through the pipeline systems owned by the Kenya Pipeline Limited Company (KPA).
The administration of Yoweri Museveni also revealed that it wants to stop Kenyan Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) from bringing fuel into Uganda.
“The complete reliance and dependency on Kenyan OMCs to import and supply petroleum products to Uganda have exposed the Republic of Uganda to supply vulnerabilities resulting in an avoidable increase in fuel pump prices,” read court documents submitted by Uganda.
Kenya had committed to support Uganda’s policy of importing and supplying petroleum products for their market via the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), in accordance with earlier agreements.
However, because UNOC neglected to provide the necessary paperwork as instructed by EPRA, the proposed policies’ actualization was delayed.
Uganda also asked for the requirements to be waived, claiming that since the imported goods were not going to Kenya, they weren’t necessary.
The landlocked nation further justified its right to import through the Mombasa port by claiming that they should have access to the port at all costs in accordance with the terms of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.
Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni’s reactions
On November 7, Museveni made additional accusations against Kenyan intermediaries for driving up fuel prices and asked for Uganda to be approved as an Oil Marketing Company (OMC) in Kenya.
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On January 1, though, he promised to confer with Ruto in order to resolve their diplomatic issues amicably instead of taking revenge as demanded by Ugandan lawmakers. owever, Kenya has not yet responded to the lawsuit, and it is unclear if Museveni’s legal action against Kenya could exacerbate tensions between the two nations despite his earlier pledge to communicate with Ruto.
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